Report of the Workshop on North Sea herring larvae surveys, data needs and execution (WKHERLARS2)

The Workshop on North Sea herring larvae surveys, data needs and execution (WKHERLARS2) met on 15–17 November 2016 in IJmuiden, The Netherlands. The meeting aimed to review and evaluate the current herring larvae surveys (International Herring Larvae Surveys, IHLS, and the Midwater Ringnet Sampling during the Inter-national Bottom Trawl Survey of the 1st quarter, IBTS MIK). These surveys provide indices on the trends in SSB and 0-ringers (recruitment) for North Sea herring. The surveys were to be evaluated in the light of the needs for the management of North Sea herring. The meeting was co-chaired by Cindy van Damme, The Netherlands, and Richard D.M. Nash, Norway. In total 11 participants from 5 countries (representing 6 different institutes) participated in the meeting.